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Synonyms

merely

American  
[meer-lee] / ˈmɪər li /

adverb

  1. only as specified and nothing more; simply.

    merely a matter of form.

  2. Obsolete.

    1. without admixture; purely.

    2. altogether; entirely.

ˈmerely British  
/ ˈmɪəlɪ /

adverb

  1. only; nothing more than

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of merely

First recorded in 1400–50, merely is from the late Middle English word mereli. See mere 1, -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

We spoke merely hours before the debut of “Freestyle: A Love Story,” a stage production that follows two lovers who meet at a freestyle show — then reconnect at a concert 20 years later.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

The Fail Mary was merely the final straw.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The airline will cut costs through measures based on the price of oil, Woo wrote, adding that the moves are "not merely a one-time" initiative but a chance to "strengthen our structural foundation".

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Nonetheless, after the beating stocks have taken, suddenly 7000 on the S&P 500 sounds aspirational rather than merely adequate.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Mrs. Apple merely pointed to her throat and shook her head.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.